Blessing Rain
Good morning. If you’ve been reading along with us, you know I live in a desert region—one that receives only ten to twelve inches of rain each year; most of it falls during the monsoon season. We never have a guarantee of rain. But this morning, it’s been falling since last night, steady and glorious.

As I sit here with this blessing outside my window, we continue our study in Isaiah, turning today to chapters 5 through 8.
Not Just Favorite Verses
This book contains some of the most quoted verses in all of Scripture. For example, Isaiah 7:14 declares:
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Holy Bible, NIV)
That is the hope and promise that we cling to. I could write about God’s unparalleled love all day, and I know it would resonate with readers—after all, many ministries make their mark with those messages.

But that’s not why I write. I write because God has given me a burden—for a world that barely knows Him. In my heart, I heard the call to create this written ministry: to be a missionary without leaving my office. It is a blessing to serve.

I heard a voice say, “I need someone to reach beyond the walls of My church.” Like Isaiah, I answered, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)
The Gospel Is Not Glamour
There’s a fantasy some might entertain: that living for God means everything turns to gold. We envision book sales pouring in, crowds praising every word we write. But that’s not how it works. Jesus warned:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18, NIV)
If our motives are fame or fortune, we’ve misunderstood the call. Sharing God’s Word is a blessing in itself. And sometimes, it will offend.

Because the true Gospel does not avoid the subject of sin. Yes, God is love (1 John 4:8), but unless we recognize our sinfulness and need for a Savior, we will never submit to His Lordship.
Digging Up Stones
Isaiah 5:2 provides a vivid image:
“He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines.” (NIV)
As Ellicott notes, those stones likely represent idols crafted by human hands. God removes the idols so that the vineyard might bear good fruit. Yet when we look at our world, the fruit we see is selfishness and hatred.

We’ve grown complacent. We assume God’s protection as if we deserve it. We don’t earn grace; God gives it, at the greatest cost to Himself (Ephesians 2:8–9).

And because we’ve rejected obedience, Isaiah gives this sobering warning:
“I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled.” (Isaiah 5:5, NIV)
When Evil Is Called Good
Isaiah continues:

We crowd ourselves into tension-filled cities (Isaiah 5:8).
We indulge in revelry, drinking from night until morning (Isaiah 5:11).
We celebrate that lifestyle, calling it “the good life.”

But Isaiah warns:
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” (Isaiah 5:20, NIV) “If one looks at the land, there is only darkness and distress.” (Isaiah 5:30, NIV)
That’s a consequence of spiritual reversal.

Even after coming to faith, I spent some Saturdays drinking deep into the night with my neighbors. I wasn’t getting up for church on Sunday—I was waking hungover, chasing recovery with more alcohol. That wasn’t life; that was bondage.
The Light Breaks Through
This is the beauty of the Gospel.

The virgin conceived the Child (Isaiah 7:14). He now sits on the throne of glory, and His presence fills the earth:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6:3, NIV)
We don’t need to consult the dead or chase false spirits (Isaiah 8:19). We serve a living God who walks with us when we walk with Him.

He is waiting. Calling. Longing for our repentance.
Refresh and Return
So on this blessed day of refreshing rain, I invite you to seek the greater refreshment—the cleansing that comes only through salvation.

Jesus is waiting for you to return.
Tomorrow, we will read Isaiah 9-12.
Citations

Holy Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.

Ellicott, Charles. Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers: Isaiah. London: Cassell & Co., 1878.

Motyer, J. Alec. The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 1993.